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Dec 18 - Gravel Pit to Beacon Hill (Antelope Island)

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 Chilly morning at 11 degrees but it's supposed to be sunny with a high near 30 degrees. Heading out to Antelope Island for a hike; planning on the Gravel Pit/Beacon Hill trail. Definitely sunny this morning but still around 13 degrees when I reach the causeway.  Again no birds of prey but I do have a coyote running across the road in front of me (heading north), he disappears in the vegetation and then reappears on the flats of the Great Salt Lake. Not sure what he is running from but nice to see him. He is moving to the west along the flats. I reach the Island, no Bald Eagles this morning, and head south towards the Ranch. Hoping some bison have moved back east. I spot a Kestrel in basically the same spot just after the Visitor's Center but today he is on a sign on the east side of the road. And a rabbit sitting on the side of the road along the curves section. After that is a vast nothingness until I spot another Kestrel across from Frary Peak. Again nothingness until just ...
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Dec 16 - Antelope Island Cruise

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 Cool but sunny day (high in mid-20s) but a welcome reprieve of a week where is snowed 4 days (maybe) and dumped over a foot a snow on me and over 5ft in the mountains. Haven't seen that big of a dump in several years now. Hopefully that's a good omen for the rest of winter. Heading up to Antelope Island to have a look around. Would like to hike (I brought all of my stuff) but still battling a very sore heal and it would be best to little it rest ...so we'll see. (oh, and the walking in snow will aggravate the heal even more). I arrive on the causeway and it's sunny to the east but still clouds moving thru from the west. Half the island is sunny and the other, not so much. (and its 21 degrees) Crossing the causeway there were no hawk or kestrels; very surprised especially with all the snow and cold temperatures. But there is a small group of Canadian Geese laying on the Great Salt Lake side. As I near the island, the are 2 black dots in the distance. They look a little ...
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Dec 10 - Gravel Pit to Beacon Hill (Antelope Island)

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 Mostly cloudy day with temps in the low 40s. Heading up to Antelope Island to hopefully get a hike after a few weeks. As I arrive on the causeway, it's 30 degrees and just a light wind. No Bald Eagles today but lots of duck hunters. When I reach the island, I head south towards the Ranch. Just a tad south of the Visitor's Center (before the fence), I see a Kestrel perched on a sign and it looks like he has breakfast. There's also a single bison just before the fence. There an inch or two of snow covering the ground for the most part but there are a few areas that are open. It's isn't until I reach Frary Peak (which by the way, the gate is now closed) do I see a large hawk. When I turn my head there's a good sized herd of Pronghorn on the other side of the road. I drive past the large part of the herd and spot for a couple more that are closer to the road including male tag #2. I continue along to the Ranch and I did not see any bison. There's no bison visib...
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Nov 27 - Antelope Island

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Partly sunny with temps in the mid-40s forecasted. Heading up to Antelope Island to hike to Beacon Hill. It's already in the lows 30s when I leave around 8am. However, there's a lot of fog in the valley. And especially along the Antelope Island Causeway and the Island. Foggy from the time I arrive but it's starts to clear a bit before getting socked in. I do find that large herd of bison near Frary Peak on Friday still there - as is the little herd a bit farther down the road. It clears up as I approach the Ranch. There are bison just north of Mushroom Springs (not a good day to hike that) and some even farther north. I decide to turn back north spotting for a wonderful hawk near the Ranch. Down across from Frary Peak, I see a Pheasant, And near the Frary Peak Rd, a coyote! It's clear when I arrive at the Gravel Pit parking. A little coating of snow is on the ground plants. But there is no wind but also no sun. I also see a bison in the distance which may or may not be ...
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Nov 24 - Sentry Peak (Antelope Island)

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 Happy Thanksgiving! Sunny day with temps around 40 degrees. Heading up to Antelope Island to hopefully hike Sentry Peak. It's 29 degrees and sunny when I reach the island.  Along the causeway I see my 1st Kestrel of the year perched on a sign. And several cars of duck hunters. I head south towards the Ranch. There are 2 bison at the intersection where you either go straight for the west side of the Island or head south for the Ranch. Those are the last critters I see until around Frary Peak where I see a herd of bison - a large herd. I also pass another Kestrel. A little farther, there's a herd of bison closer to the mountains and then a bigger herd in the flats (where they hung out after the fire). I keep my fingers crossed as I approach the Ranch and yes, no bison. I can hike to Sentry Peak! I gear up and start my way down the road (it's been closed since the first snowfall) to the trailhead. When I'm practically at the trailhead, I see 2 Pronghorn just east of the r...
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Nov 21 - Lambs Canyon Rd (and a bit of the trail)

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 Sunny day in the upper 30s. Headed to walk Lambs Canyon Road around noon today. Start of the road is snow-free and then it gradually changes to part snow/ice and finally to all snow/ice. Most of the snow is on the east facing slopes. But there is snow on the west side in spots where there's hardly any sun. No flowers today just wonderful flaky snow glistening in the sunny spots. Pretty incredible! The trees in some cases are also covered in this flaky snow - piled on. And the ice formations in the creek are also wonderful. Many animals tracks today -- wish I could ID them but fun to look at. Heard a few Chick-a-dees in one spot but other than that pretty quiet. Saw a hunter (archery) coming down the road as I went up. I reach the trail head. Pretty icy just before as it appears the stream alongside the road overflowed. Stunning crystalization in that stream. The trees/brush at the bridge crossing is thick and beautiful.  The bridge is snow-packed so I go across and walk the t...
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